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Dallas-based CashWorks launched its ‘PayPort’check cashing solution this week. Initial pilot locations will be two Town & Country convenience stores in San Angelo, Texas which use Tidel ATMs. ‘PayPort’is the first check cashing solution to employ a clerk-assisted POS terminal as a transaction authorization device linked to a conventional ATM for the disbursement of funds. The CashWorks management team is headed by several executives involved with the now defunct InnoVentry. Ken Rees, president of CashWorks, previously served as COO and EVP of business development for InnoVentry and CashWorks Chairman Michael Stinson was a co-founder of Mr. Payroll Corporation,an InnoVentry precursor. Innoventry was jointly owned by Wells Fargo, Capital One and Diebold.

Datacap Systems, Inc., a leading provider of integrated payment systems, announces certification and availability of Paymentechâs FlexCache stored value program, supported on DataTran, Datacapâs electronic payment appliance that is used with hundreds of business systems, PCs, point-of-sale terminals and purpose-built cash registers. With recent surveys indicating that over 40% of people polled expect to give or receive at least one gift certificate this year, automating the gift certificate process has become critical. Replacing paper gift certificates with Electronic Gift Cards is the solution. Higher store traffic, better marketing, reduced fraud and simplified revenue/tax accounting are driving merchants to issue electronic gift cards. Consumers find the gift cards easy to purchase, store and use. Paymentechâs FlexCache program has been especially successful with retail and restaurant chains. Systems developers that have integrated DataTran to their POS offerings can easily add support for stored value cards to their systems, making Paymentechâs FlexCache available to their merchants and eliminating the need to have separate dial terminals. Datacapâs integrated payment solutions support over 150,000 points-of-sale and are interfaced to many PC-based registers and POS products, including systems produced by NCR, Casio, Sharp, CRS, Samsung, Datasym, TEC America and Dresser Industries. The Company Datacap Systems has successfully designed, manufactured and marketed integrated credit/debit/check verification systems for over 18 years. Datacapâs payment verification interfaces allow virtually any system, regardless of operating system or hardware platform, to get easy access to payment processing networks for credit, debit, check, EBT, house charge, gift card and loyalty program processing. Datacap products are typically used in retail, mail/telephone order, hospitality, quick service, retail petroleum, parking, auto rental, convenience, medical and government applications. Additional Notifications If you would like additional, more frequent notifications by email, send an email to Datacap sales admin at requesting email notification and indicating the Datacap products and partnersâ products you currently use or re-sell.

Global Cash Access, the leading supplier of cash access, financial management and customer relationship marketing technologies to the gaming industry, has launched QuikFunds to provide off-track betting establishments and their customers a quick, safe and convenient method of transferring funds from their credit card or checking account.

With QuikFunds, OTB customers have around-the-clock access to their funds. Once a patron has established a QuikFunds account, funds can be transferred within seconds from their payment instrument of choice via a toll-free number to any OTB property in GCA’s network of more than 1,000 gaming properties in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean and Europe.

“Prior to QuikFunds, it was restrictive and time consuming for patrons to transfer their funds to off-track betting establishments,” said Kirk Sanford, chief executive officer of GCA. “With QuikFunds, patrons now have a cash access tool for off-track betting that is easy to use and provides almost instant access to their funds, while the property benefits from another revenue source.”

Patrons establish a QuikFunds account with a simple one-time enrollment process. Patrons are pre-screened and approved once their credit card(s) or checking account is verified. Funds can be transferred immediately or at a later date. QuikFunds features an advanced Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Unit telephone authorization system to ensure that funds are transferred only from a state in which it is legal to place a wager. The IVR prompts patrons to enter a specific OTB location for which they’d like the money to be transferred and then verifies the location of the patron. Upon verification, the IVR asks the patron for the amount requested and confirms acceptance of the service fee. The patron is then issued a confirmation number and funds are sent to the OTB establishment.

About Global Cash Access

Global Cash Access is a joint venture of First Data Corp. and M&C International, Inc. Providing access to the gaming industry’s largest patron database, Global Cash Access uses Internet technologies to deliver funds transfer, financial management and customer relationship marketing services to more than 1,000 gaming properties in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean and Europe. More information on the company is available at [www.globalcashaccess.com][1].

O2Micro International Limited, a leading supplier of innovative power management and security ICs to mobile computer and communications manufacturers, announced that OZ773 will be available in select Compaq Presario Desktop PC configurations beginning in early Spring.

The OZ773, the first in the patent pending E-Guardian family of products, combines a standard USB HUB with smart card reader functionality, eliminating the need for an external smart card reader. The OZ773 provides PC users with the ability to transact secure e-commerce transactions on the Internet using their desktop computer keyboard and a financial smart card. It is fully compliant with the Microsoft (MSFT) PC/SC specification and is EMV Level 1 certified. EMV certification is a requirement for a smart card reader when used with the new financial smart cards issued by American Express, Visa, and Citibank (MasterCard).

“We are delighted to have Compaq Computer as our first customer to incorporate this technology into their Smart Credit Card Internet Keyboard,” said Sterling Du, O2Micro’s Chairman and CEO.

“Compaq strives to bring our customers the very latest technologies to make the PC an easy-to-use, yet powerful tool that facilitates secure and convenient Internet purchasing, instant, secure Internet log-on and off, quick and easy access to Web sites and email by storing links, management of unique passwords and login information for favorite Internet sites, and other online convenience utilities,” said Will Townsend, senior manager of Consumer Desktop Product Marketing in Compaq’s Access Business Group. “Our use of the OZ773 allows Compaq the ability to offer such flexibility to our customers, so we’re very pleased to be partnered with O2Micro.”

The OZ773 is fully compliant with the Microsoft (MSFT) PC/SC specification and is EMV Level 1 certified. It is also compatible to the IEEE 7816 specifications and standard transmission protocols including T = 1, T = 0.

About O2Micro

Founded in March 1995, O2Micro designs, develops and markets innovative power management and security components for mobile communication, computer, information appliance, and LCD products. Products include AudioDJ(R), SmartCardBus(R) for secure on line e-commerce, LCD Backlight Inverters and Battery Management IC’s. O2Micro maintains an extensive portfolio of intellectual property with 378 patent claims granted, and over 710 more pending. The company maintains offices worldwide. Additional company and product information can be found on the company website at [www.o2micro.com][1].

NACHA reported this morning that Jamie Dimon, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Bank One will deliver the opening keynote at ‘Payments 2002’. The annual conference on electronic payments and e-business, will be held in Dallas in mid April. An ‘eStrategy Forum’ will analyze the Federal Reserve’s landmark research on checks and electronic payments, and identify the decisions that payment service providers and users face as a result of the findings. The conference will include 100 sessions and about 140 exhibits.

The Federal Trade Commission indicated last week it wants to ban the use of predictive dialers, which are widely used in the credit card industry. The FTC also wants to prohibit blocking or otherwise subverting the transmission of the name and/or telephone number of the calling party for caller identification service purposes, a widespread practice among telemarkets of ancillary credit card services. The predictive dialers place calls but do not respond immediately to an answered call, resulting in “dead air”. The proposals are part of the FTC’s broad proposal to establish a national “Do Not Call” registry which will make it illegal for telemarketers to call consumers who place their phone number on the national registry. The registry would enable consumers to eliminate most telemarketing calls simply by making one call to the FTC. The FTC also proposes to expand its telemarketing rules to cover calls made to solicit charitable contributions.

LaserCard manufacturer Drexler Technology reported net income of $720,000 on revenues of $5.3 million for the quarter ending Dec 31. LaserCard shipments rose 28%, to 1,545,000 cards from 1,206,000 cards the previous year and 18% above the previous record of 1,310,000 cards. Sales during the quarter included card shipments to the U.S. Department of State for southwestern border security; the INS; the U.S. Department of Defense; the Government of Italy (100,000 national ID cards); VISX, Incorporated; and 23,000 cards to China for two different programs. Last month, the Company raised ‘LaserCard’ shipment estimates for fiscal 2003 to 8 to 10 million cards compared to an estimated 5.3 million cards for fiscal 2002, ending March 31. For complete details on Drexler’s latest results visit CardData ([www.carddata.com][1]).

American Express and China
International Travel Service announced the creation of the first
Sino-U.S. corporate travel joint venture in the People’s Republic of China.
The joint venture company, which has received all required government
approvals, will be known as CITS American Express Travel Services Limited. It
will be based in Beijing and begin its operations in April 2002. The
organisation will provide corporate travel management services and corporate
leisure travel services to clients from multi-national corporations, regional
and domestic companies throughout the country. Services provided by the new
joint venture company include obtaining and handling visas, international and
domestic flight reservations and ticketing, hotel reservations, convention
services and other land arrangements.

Charles Petruccelli, President, Global Travel, American Express Global
Corporate Services commented, “This is our first joint venture in the People’s
Republic of China, and it represents an important step forward for American
Express to better service customers in China with international standard
corporate travel services. Furthermore, we will be better able to meet the
needs of our multi-national clients who operate in, and travel to, China. This
partnership reinforces our already strong presence in the Corporate Travel
market throughout Asia where we are the largest provider of travel management
services.”

He continued, “By combining the strength of American Express’ global travel
management expertise and worldwide support with CITS’ extensive local
knowledge
and operational expertise in the travel business in China, this new company is
exceptionally well positioned to capitalize on the growth potential of the
business travel industry in China.”

This new agreement represents another major step in American Express’ global
strategy to grow its Corporate Travel business. Petruccelli added, “American
Express is committed to expanding its corporate travel interests and this
alliance is very much in line with our strategy for growth. Over the last
seven
years we have made several acquisitions and created joint ventures in the
U.S.,
Europe and other markets in Asia such as Hong Kong and Japan.”

American Express Global Corporate Services

American Express Corporate Services, which includes the American Express
Corporate Card, Corporate Travel and Corporate Purchasing Card, assists
companies in managing and controlling their business travel and purchasing
expenses. It is a unit of American Express Travel Related Services Company,
Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the American Express Company — a
diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company
founded in
1850. American Express is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travellers
Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products, insurance and
international banking.

China International Travel Service

American Express has been in China for over 85 years. Cooperation between
American Express and CITS goes back more than two decades when CITS was
appointed as the ground service provider for American Express inbound group
tours in 1980. In 1993, CITS was appointed by American Express as Travel
Service Representative in China, providing travel services to American Express
customers. Since then, 18 CITS offices have been converted into American
Express Travel Service Representative Offices, covering 12 major cities in the
country.

The Datacard/FormFast solution converts paper forms into digital templates saved in Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Word, PCL or HTML format. The forms are automatically filled in when a patient ID card is swiped during registration, sending duplicate forms to other departments via e-mail, fax or laser printer. Bar code technology can also be added for generating patient wristbands and labels during registration.

“These technologies can be used to automate such areas as patient and staff ID, membership management and provider authentication, now or in the future,” Lomax said. “Since the technologies leverage the same plastic cards that most nurses already use, they require minimal staff training to implement.”

A Datacard/FormFast solution also takes advantage of the Internet to simplify consumer interaction with a healthcare organization. For example, patients can fill out insurance forms online a few days before their appointment, so they are ready to receive care the moment they arrive at a healthcare facility. Edward Novak, director of corporate development at FormFast, sees the relationship with Datacard as an opportunity to expand the scope of the forms and identification solutions both companies bring to the healthcare market. “This synergy between FormFast and Datacard creates the industry’s most extensive digital identification solution that begins in admitting and extends all the way into archiving,” Novak said. “We look forward to working alongside Datacard to help our healthcare customers create an accurate, secure and cost-efficient digital identification solution that spans their entire operation.”

Datacard Group provides software, systems and professional services needed to build profitable card programs. The company’s solutions portfolio also includes a complete line of secure digital identity systems and card personalization systems. Datacard Group is privately held and based in Minnetonka, Minn. Datacard Group serves customers in more than 120 countries. ([http://www.datacard.com][1]) FormFast, Inc. provides a range of solutions that apply advanced, easy-to-use software toward solving paperwork automation challenges in a variety of industries. Hundreds of healthcare organizations use the company’s FormFast software to help save time and money by eliminating their dependence on pre-printed medical forms.

Novadigm, Inc., a leading provider of adaptive management solutions for
software and content in enterprise and Internet environments, announced
that Italy’s largest bank holding company, IntesaBci, has licensed Novadigm’s
Radia products for 50,000 users.

“This substantial extension of IntesaBci’s previous use of Novadigm’s
e-wrap technology solutions underscores Novadigm’s belief that its
long-term franchise is best built upon a satisfied customer base,” said
Gerald Labie, Novadigm president and chief operating officer. “Novadigm is
focused on customer success and we are completely committed to helping our
customers derive significant business value from our adaptive management
solutions.”

Banca Commerciale Italiana (BCI), which merged on May 1, 2001 with
Banca Intesa, to form IntesaBci had been a Novadigm customer since 1995.

“Banca Commerciale Italiana had achieved impressive results from
Novadigm’s automated software management solutions, managing all branches
which sometimes have low bandwidth characteristics,” said Vincenzo Campanini,
Systems Operations & Network Manager for IntesaBci. “After the merger decision
in 2000, the challenge for IntesaBci’s expanded information technology group
was to select the best and most comprehensive software management solution for
all banks converging to a standard Windows environment. Our competitive
evaluation and benchmarks, along with BCI’s success in achieving business
benefits with Novadigm’s solution, resulted in our selection of Novadigm’s
Radia product family for automated software management of our entire
50,000 devices environment.”

Radia’s Web-based administration and choice of fully automatic or
self-service software management are proven to reduce administrative costs
while increasing end-user satisfaction. Radia customers consistently report
lower total cost of ownership and higher levels of service to users, compared
to manual processes or competing management products.

About IntesaBci

IntesaBci, the largest Italian banking group, has been created in 2001
through the merger between Banca Italiana Commerciale, Cariplo e Ambroveneto.
Three institutes, among the most prestigious and famous in Italy, which have
put together their own distinctive competences, the professionalism and
commercial networks to meet any customer requirement with products and
services of high quality level. The IntesaBci group also comprises various
savings banks and medium size local banks well established in the respective
territories, as Cariparma, Friuladria, Banca di Trento e Bolzano, in addition
of many services companies. For further information, please visit
http://www.intesabci.it.

About Novadigm

Novadigm is a leading provider of software and content management
solutions for enterprise and Internet computing environments that enable
organizations to reduce software management costs, speed time-to-market,
expand marketing channels and open new sources of revenue. Novadigm’s suite of
integrated products, based on the company’s e-wrap(TM) technology, work
seamlessly together as the only end-to-end solution that can efficiently,
reliably and scalably deploy and manage the full range of today’s software and
content, personalized for a wide range of computing devices, across virtually
any network. Novadigm customers — Global 1000 business enterprises, software
vendors and service providers around the world — report software management
savings of 80 percent or more, time-to-market improvements of 70 percent or
more, and reliability typically greater than 99 percent. For more information
on Novadigm, please visit
http://www.novadigm.com.

One of the first beneficiaries of this new alliance is ING, who is converting to E-Z Data’s web-based Enterprise CRM Platform (ECP). “E-Z Data’s willingness to partner with us is helping us reach our objectives,” says ING Producer and Field Services Director Chris Eberly. “Our objective is to provide a comprehensive financial view with minimal cost and time commitment on the part of our advisors. Financial Advisors will be able to access StatementOne’s consolidated investment data and performance reporting information through E-Z Data’s front office CRM application. We are excited about what this brings to the advisor.”

“This new alliance capitalizes on the strengths of both firms,” explained Dale Okuno, CLU, president of E-Z Data, Inc. “StatementOne is the leader in sophisticated account consolidation and performance reporting and E-Z Data has the industry-leading front office system specifically designed to increase the marketing, sales and customer servicing capabilities of insurance agents, investment advisors, distributors and the companies they represent.”

Greg Pacholski, StatementOne’s president and chief operating officer, added, “Partnering with E-Z Data will enable us to clearly demonstrate the power of the consolidated database that we’ve developed for ING. They will now be able to automatically populate – and maintain – their CRM system with extremely accurate, detailed and current information about purchasers of their products. To an enterprise like ING, the cost-savings alone are very significant!”

About E-Z Data…

Established in 1986, Pasadena, CA-based E-Z Data, Inc. is the leading provider of front office systems for insurance companies, broker-dealers, general agents, OSJs, and investment advisors. Its web-based Enterprise CRM Platform (ECP) provides a comprehensive solution for synchronizing the efforts of all the key players in sales, marketing, and customer service. The company’s clients include approximately 30 of the largest U.S. and international insurance and financial services companies, including American Express Financial Advisors, AXA Australia, Mutual of Omaha, ING, New York Life, Prudential and Wachovia Bank. E-Z Data’s domain expertise, coupled with mature industry specific business components, results in consistently successful customer implementations. For more information about E-Z Data, visit their website at [http://www.ez-data.com][1].

About StatementOne…

StatementOne consolidates data for financial institutions and other enterprises, collecting transaction-level data sets from both legacy systems and external custodians, utilizing direct data feeds. They currently manage account data for over $80 billion (U.S.) in assets, representing more than 18,000 financial advisors and over 1,500,000 investors and 3,500,000 individual accounts. They provide a secure, web-based, turnkey service which delivers securities account aggregation, consolidated statements and performance reporting to branch managers, registered representatives and their clients (investors). Their proprietary software cleans, organizes and reconciles the data, producing a consolidated, unified data structure, with virtually no manual intervention. This scalable database is also used to feed critical, best-of-breed applications for use in business planning, analytics and CRM. Their clients include broker dealers in the ING Advisors Network, the SunAmerica network, ING Aetna Financial Services, Cambridge Investment Research and CalFed Bank.